By Eddie Mayrose

Locks Wrap Up Season And Look To Go Bowling

This is it for the Lock family. The final week of prognostications before their NCAA Football Bowl selections in a few weeks. It’s been a successful season for the most part, especially since the firing of Gil Lock of Ryno Rife Sports Handicapping. With wife Jill and nephew Pad picking up the slack, the Locks have forged an impressive record while saving the dignity of the family name. Many were disappointed that Gil was not included in last week’s column; as they’d come to rely on him as a reverse indicator. Jill and Pad have taken their protests under advisement and may invite Gil back for the Bowl Season. With that decision still up in the air, here are the Locks of the Week for the final Saturday of the season.

Locks of the Week

Jill Locks (21-10)

Conference USA Football Championship

Houston -1 over East Carolina-

The Cougars, needing two straight wins for a Championhsip berth, responded by scoring 128 points while drubbing both Memphis and Rice. They’ll face defending champ East Carolina on the Pirates’ home turf; the main reason the line is so low. However, while the two didn’t meet in ’09, Houston did ring up over 600 yards of offense last year as the Cougars ran away with a 41-24 win at East Carolina. Houston QB Case Keenum leads the nation in total offense and will be too much for the Pirates to handle.

ACC Football Championship

Georgia Tech -1 over Clemson

– Georgia Tech escaped with a 30-27 win when the two met back in September and Clemson will be looking for revenge. However, that game wasn’t as close as the score would indicate as the Yellow Jackets ran for over 300 yards in dominating the line of scrimmage. Clemson may have the league’s best player in C.J. Spiller but he managed just 18 rushing yards last week in a loss to South Carolina. Don’t think Tech hasn’t watched that film a few times.

Big 12 Football Championship

Texas – 14 1/2 over Nebraska

– This doesn’t shape up to be much of a game. Texas has been rolling along unchallenged for most of the season and then got its wake up call last week courtesy of Texas A&M. There’s no way they won’t be ready Saturday which is very bad news for Nebraska.

Pad Locks (8-5)

San Jose State vs. Lousiana Tech over 46 1/2-

San Jose State is one of the nation’s most generous teams while Louisiana Tech reminds no one of the Steel Curtain. La. Tech may go over by themselves.

Boise State vs. New Mexico over 58 1/2-

This week’s “Arifemetic” lesson. Boise is favored by 47 points so, the line is telling you you’ll probably need just a TD from New Mex. Plus, I love the fact that Boise needs to run it up to lock up a BCS bid.

California -6 over Washington-

It’s been an up and down year for both teams but California has finally started playing consistently well and has a lot more talent than the Huskies even with Jahvid Best out of the lineup.